China's Pinglu Canal project wins international green design awards

The World Canals Conference 2026 opened in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Tuesday, bringing together representatives of canal cities, research institutions, universities and industry organizations from more than 20 countries. At the opening ceremony, the World Green Design Organization presented the Pinglu Canal project with the Green Design International Award and the Green Design International Contribution Award. The Pinglu Canal opened to navigation on September 16, giving southwest China a shortcut to the coast and overseas markets. The 134.2-kilometer waterway connects the Xijiang River shipping network with the Beibu Gulf in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Under the theme "Innovation and Perseverance: Critical Choices," the conference focuses on two main themes. One highlights the Lingqu Canal, a historic water conservancy project known as a gem of ancient hydraulic engineering, with discussions on heritage preservation, restoration and adaptive reuse. The other focuses on the Pinglu Canal, showcasing practices in the high-quality development of modern water transport.